If American infrastructure, health care and education were world-class, I'd happily pay sky-high taxes, just like Ingvar Kamprad and his Swedish compatriots.

Thank you Ingvar Kamprad for giving Americans back our dignity.

Takeaway to Consider

IKEA Ups Minimum Wage. Up Yours.

All U.S. politicians suck.

Denny Hatch's new book is "Write Everything Right!" Chip Fichtner writes, "Denny: Almost through it. Great as always. Question: With any good book, I like to buy a dozen and give to friends and employees. Should I buy direct through you or from Amazon?" Click here to download (opens as a PDF) and read the first three chapters FREE. The title is also available on Kindle. Reach him at dennyhatch@yahoo.com.

CPI Calculator: $60.00 in 1960 = $478.36 in 2014 or $24874.72. Not good, but $60 a week sounds so much more dramatic! In 1934, my mother ordered a Baked Alaska for dessert, $5, not too dramatic, until you uncover the buying power in today’s dollars, $88.06. No wonder my father fell of his chair! Another, perhaps you’ll remember from the 40’s on the ole radio: (Singing) “Pepsi Cola hits the spot, 12 full ounces that’s a lot, twice as much for a nickel, too, Pepsi Cola’s the drink for you.” Now that 5¢ would be 84¢, 16.86 times bigger. Figures don’t lie, but liars… (Nooooo, Denny, you’re not a liar.)